Reverend Athur Desmond Shaw
July 26, 1874- August 11, 1939

 

 

Arthur Desmond Shaw
July 26, 1874-August 11, 1939

Served the Church, September 1, 1919–December 31, 1920, Assistant Pastor

Biographical Sketch

Reverend Arthur Desmond Shaw, in 1919 moved from Honolulu, Hawaii to Austin, TX. He started his ministry in Austin October 1, 1919, with the intention of remaining one year. His salary was $2000/yr. He had been the pastor of the First Foreign Church of Hilo. He resided at 506 Puueo Avenue, Hilo. Arthur, Isabel and 10-year-old son, Leslie, left Hilo in September, 1919 for the trip to Austin.

In 1917 the minister's salary is $1200/yr; however, the church struggled to raise this amount. There was a severe drought and poor economy. The total budget for the church was $1702.27. Church property was valued at $19,080. There were 155 members, 58 males and 97 females.

On December 17, 1919, the Austin church received notice that their request to the Congregational Home Missionary Society for $600 to supplement the minister's salary for the next year had been approved. The society strongly admonished them that they were to launch a canvas to raise money for the minister's salary and to contribute to the home missions of the society. This implies that the church was having financial difficulties, which may account for the early departure of Rev. Shaw.

The Congregational Christian Churches of USA 1939 Year Book states "Arthur Desmond Shaw was born Derbyshire, England, July 26, 1875. His parents were John Bennet and Ann (Bennett) Shaw. Ordination, Baptist, San Jose, CA, 1908. Pastorates: Malden, WA, 1910–12; Tacoma, WA, 1912–16; Hillsboro, Oregon, 1917–18; Hilo, T.H., 1918–19; Austin, TX, 1919–20; Lopez, WA, 1921–22; Pasco, WA, 1922–26; Cathlamet, WA, 1929–30.

Rev. Shaw's birthdate is elusive. In the 1918 draft registration, it is July 26, 1874. His naturalization petition has his birth July 28, 1871, in Nottingham, England. He says he immigrated from Linford ( might be Langford), England, arriving Boston, MA, on December 20, 1901, on the ship RMS Saxonia. There is an A. D. Shaw who arrived in Boston on the RMS Saxonia about this time; his profession was listed as "actor." The naturalization document states that his wife, Isabel, was born in Newcastle.

In 1923, Reverend Shaw applied for a position with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

The earliest records found him in New York City as an Adjutant for the Salvation Army. He was a popular lecturer in New York and Pennsylvania. In 1906, Shaw gave a lecture on the need to establish "Farm Colonies" to provide support for impoverished immigrants. The talk was entitled "The Landless Man to the Manless Land."

 

 

 

 

An article appeared in the Tuesday, March 21, 1905, The New York Times about his marriage to Ensign Isabel Crozier of St. Louis. (Likely a recent move as she is in the 1905 St. Joseph, MO City Directory listed as an ensign in Salvation Army. Isabel was born at Newcastle on Tyne, in the town of Banstead, Surrey, England, March 21, 1878. Here are several announcements, the one on the left is from the March 21, 1905, The New York Times and the one on the right is from the Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock). The one below is from the New York Tribune, March 20, 1905.

 

 

A child, Arthur Desmond Shaw Jr., was born to the couple February 13, 1906. Sadly, he died May 9, 1906, and is buried in the Kensico Cemetery Valhalla, Westchester County, New York, in the Salvation Army plot.

Shaw was ordained into the Baptist Church in San Jose, CA, in 1908.

In 1910 census, Arthur and Isabel were living in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho. He was a minister. According to this census, they both immigrated in 1902. He was maybe naturalized, but she is not.

In 1912 and 1915, Shaw was a minister of East Tacoma Congregational Church, a church formed in 1885. The church in Tacoma had 250 members. He was living at 2712 East E. Street in Tacoma, Washington. Here is a quote from The History of Tacoma, “The East Congregational Church erected a new building in 1890. With the coming of Rev. Dr. A. D. Shaw, an active an able man, this church became a new force in the community and its influence is now city wide.”

HILLSBORO CALLS PASTOR
Rev. A. D. Shaw, of Tacoma, Resigns to Take New Charge.
TACOMA, Wash., Feb. 6. (Special.)

Rev. A. D. Shaw has resigned as pastor of East Congregational Church, Tacoma, to become pastor of the First Congregational Church of Hillsboro, OR. He will assume his new pastorate on March 15. Rev. Mr. Shaw came to Tacoma. from Maiden, Wash., five years ago and during his residence in the city has built up his own church and has been active In civic affairs. He was secretary of the ministerial alliance for several years. He told his congregation that his reason for making the change was the advantageous offer made him in Hillsboro, OR. Morning Oregonian. (Portland, OR) 1861-1937, February 06, 1917.

(note by Mel Oakes: The Austin-Statesman in Oct 19, 1919, issue quate for the Tacoma Ledger in an introduction to a column that would run regularly by Rev. Shaw, "The Rev. Dr. Shaw, who resigned as pastor of East Congregational Church to accept a charge elsewhere, has exerted a fine infuence in Tacoma. He has a big, broad mind and a sympathetic heart. He does not repel fy stern theology but invites bya generosity and kindliness toward others whose views he may not approve. And withal he is a stout contender for every cause he undertakes."

According to his 1918 WWI draft registration, Shaw was born July 26, 1874 in England. He and Isabel were living at 1569 Washington St, Hillsboro, Washington, Oregon. He was the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Hillsboro, Oregon. He was medium height, slender build with grey eyes and dark brown hair.

In the 1920 census, Arthur and Isabel lived at West Ninth Street in Austin. Isabel's birth year was listed as 1876. He and his wife are lodgers in Francis and Bernise Nilsson's home. Nilsson was a machinist born in Denmark. His wife was born in Texas. On the church stationary, Rev. Shaw includes the title Dr. or Ph.D. No information on the source of that degree has been found.

In January 1921, Rev. Shaw was forced to resign due to throat and voice problems.

In 1930, Shaw was a Congregational minister in Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County, Washington. He and his wife were both 24 when they married, making the year about 1905, shortly after arriving in US. Isabella’s mother was born in Scotland. This census has her immigrating in 1910, clearly an error. Their son, Leslie Crozier Shaw, was born August 20, 1908, in San Jose, CA. Attached is an interesting document that his father signed for his employment. Leslie died September 16, 1963 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Mountain Home, Idaho. He was a Master Sargent in the US Air Force during World War II. In the 1940 census, he is was living with his mother in Spokane and was a Senior Clerk in City Property Department. He had graduated from college. On December 17, 1945, Leslie enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Geiger Field Spokane. The Term of his Enlistment is “Hawaiian Department.” His civilian occupation was firemen with the fire department. He is single with dependents (maybe his mother). and has completed four years of college. His rank is Staff Sargent.

Arthur died August 11, 1939 in Spokane Washington. His father was John Shaw and his mother was Ann Bennett. He is buried in Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane Washington. The burial lot was owned by Louise Shaw.

 

 

A wiper cleans the engines and other machinery.

 

1901 England Census show Isabel (Bella) Crozier working for Salvation Army.